Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-27

| way III the neaVy granite-iraneu bcrcol
one stands in the lobby OF the general
waiting-room. This lobby is tiled from
floor to ceiling with tiles OF mel
cream-color, and the ceiling finished II
worked chestnut. Passing under ar
arch Is feet wide and Ii feet 3 inches
high, formed OF moulded and plain
red pressed bricks springing from
massive blocks Of Seneca sand
stone, the general waiting-room open.
up, 38 feet wide, rs feet long, and e
feet inches high. Red brick archie:
similar to the one just noticed occur al
either end OF the room, in the one case
spanning the ticket-box, and in the
other containing the screen leading to the
entrance TO the trains. Immediately II
front of usa huge chimney piece, In red
brick and Seneca sandstone, raises its
sloping roof-lines nearly to the level OF
the underside of the gallery. The size
of the mantel is worth recording-width
II feet, height 15l feet, width OF niche
8 feet inches, height feet inches,
| depth 3 feet, height of shelf above
floor 6 feet 4 inches the Intel over
the niche and forming the mantel shell
is single stone weighing A tons.
SOME OF THE WORK.
The walls of the general waiting
room, together with those Of the rear
entrance, are tiled to the height of 10
feet. above which a broad chestnut
moulding separates the buff brick in
white cement running to the underside
of the gallery-hoor. An ornamental
belt of olive-tinted tiles 12t inches wide
runs round the room on line with the
springing blocks under the arches.
On a level with the chestnut cap
moulding are placed corbels of Seneca
sandstone supporting the brackets car
rying the gallery. The gallery edge is
richly moulded and the sofiits of all
ceilings filed in with selected panel
lumber, and the angles suitably finish
ed with grouped mouldings. An orna-
mental wrought iron rail runs round
the gallery, painteda rich bronze-green.
The walls above the gallery-hoor are
plastered and colored to conform to the
tints in the story below. and protected
from injury 10y a chestnut wainscoting
feet in height.
The main ceiling is deeply cofered
and the part next the walls panelledand
moulded. The middle portion of this
ceiling, consisting Of a framework 20
feet by g. feet, is raised 1 feet above
the part next the wall, from which
curved brackets spring and assist in
supporting the framework just men
toned. This frame Is entirely filled
with heavy glass +; the light from the
ridge-light and four large windows lin
rear wall opening on the depressed por-
ton of the rear roof, and affording ven
tilation in midsummer filters through
pleasantly, illuminating the room be-
low. The space between the floor at
third-story level and the bottom of the
ceiling. light is divided into panels, and
the same filled with wrought-iron
gratings of ornamental patterns.
The finish of the woodwork through
out the entire building is in imitation
of antique oak, and ii was intended by
the use Of chestnut (the grain being
large to depend mainly on it for the
effect.
1t must be borne in mind, as pre-
viously stated, that this room is to serve
the purpose of a central cortile, from
which access can be had to all the passen-
ger-rooms and offices, hence it was made
more effective and pretentious than its
actual use would seemingly justify.
FINE ROOMS.
The ladies' waiting-room, restaurant,
and dining-room are connected with the
general waiting-room by openings s
feet wide and 10 feet in height, the
Intel over the same being formed of
heavy rolled beams and plates, painted
in silver bronze and rivet-heads picked
out in copper. The walls are wainscOted
to the height of six feet four inches,
the former room having large press
brick mantelpiece, having panels of
tsrra-cotta and buff brick aud a bevelled
mirror let into the brick-work above
the mantel-shelf. Panelled beams and
hardwood cornices, deeply moulded,
make the finish for ceilings in these
rooms. The main stairway is finished
throughout in ash and chestnut, the
ratings of ornamental wrought iron,
similar in design to those of the gal
lery, but having an ash handrail.
IRoY-woRK, &C.
All the ornamental iron-work was
executed by Messrs. Shannon Il Sons,
of Philadelphia, under the immediate
supervision of the architect.
The gas fixtures in the several
passenger rooms are of wrought
iron, massive, and in design to con-
form to the architecture of the build
ing. Messrs. George W. Shaw 81 Co.,
Of Philadelphia, are the manufacturers.
The tile-work was executed by
Messrs. Sharpless e. Watts, of Phila-
delphia, the tile being imported from
England especially for the work.
The foregoing describes the salient
features of the building, the rest of the
apartments being designed in view of
the purposes for which they are in
tended to be used, simply as offices.
Care was taken with the matter of
lighting, and the introduction of glazed
sash in partitions throughout the Offices
will ensure perfect ventilation during
the summer months.
1t is intended at not a distant day to
enclose the grounds and rail off
portion of the train-shed to facilitate
the passenger business, but owing to
the unfinished state of the surroundings
nothing definite has been decided upon.
THE BUILDERS.
The passenger station was built
under the supervision of Major E. L.
ID. Myers, general superintendent, by
Mossrs. Cubbesley 4 Kafer, of Tren-
ton, n. j. The train-shed was likewise
erected (under the supervision of Major
Myers by Mr.. David S. Cofrode, of
Philadelphia.
Mr.. Cofrode was the contractor for
the freight house, built under the
supervision of Major r. NJ. Sully.
The baggsge-room was built by the
railroad company by day-labor.
Wherever and whenever possible,
preference was given by the contractors
to local labor and materials. The entire
80. OIL oorr,aI o,,t